By Alvarado H.B. No. 438 75R3424 GWK-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the implementation of a controlled substances testing 1-3 program to be administered to inmates housed in facilities operated 1-4 by or under contract with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Chapter 500, Government Code, is amended by 1-7 adding Section 500.007 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 500.007. TESTING FOR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. (a) The 1-9 board after consultation with the Criminal Justice Policy Council 1-10 by rule shall implement a program to randomly test, for the 1-11 purpose of determining the presence of controlled substances, the 1-12 breath, blood, or other bodily substances of inmates housed in 1-13 facilities operated by or under contract with the department. 1-14 (b) The department annually shall test not less than five 1-15 percent of the inmates housed in facilities operated by or under 1-16 contract with the department. 1-17 (c) The department shall use the most cost-effective means 1-18 possible to perform the tests required by this section, and shall 1-19 actively seek grants from the federal government or other sources 1-20 to expand the program created under this section. 1-21 SECTION 2. The Texas Board of Criminal Justice shall 1-22 implement the program required by Section 500.007, Government Code, 1-23 as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 1998, and shall 1-24 begin testing of inmates for the presence of controlled substances 2-1 not later than that date. 2-2 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 2-3 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-4 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-5 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-6 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-7 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 2-8 2-9